The Ghana Police Service has intensified its ongoing operations against illegal mining activities with a series of coordinated intelligence-led raids across the Western and Central Regions, leading to the arrest of 26 suspects and the retrieval or disabling of over 70 changfan machines, motorbikes, and other mining equipment.

These operations form part of renewed national efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey,’ which has devastated river bodies, destroyed farmlands, and threatened long-term environmental sustainability.

Security agencies have taken a more aggressive stance against the scourge, reinforcing the government’s commitment to restore Ghana’s degraded ecosystems.

The largest of the recent operations took place in the Wassa Akropong District, where 23 individuals were arrested along the Wassa Akropong-Japa-Dadieso road. According to the Ghana Police Service, the operation extended to the Obeng Mining Group site at Wassa Japa, where 64 changfan machines – makeshift dredging equipment – were disabled on-site.

These machines are commonly used to extract gold from riverbeds, often leaving extensive environmental damage in their wake.

“Our personnel conducted targeted interventions based on actionable intelligence,” the Ghana Police Service confirmed.

At Wassa Dominase, the police team acted on further intelligence indicating illegal mining near the Goil and Energy Oil filling stations along the Agona Amenfi-Gyedua Kesse Junction road. Seven additional changfan machines and several washing boards were dismantled during this leg of the operation. Officers also retrieved three water pumping machines and a pickaxe.

Another significant seizure occurred in Asankrangwa, where police moved in on an illegal mining site near a One District One Factory (1D1F) facility along the Asankra Saah-Asankra Kwabeng road. The team retrieved three more water pumping machines and four unregistered motorbikes.

“Though no suspects were apprehended at that specific site, all recovered equipment was taken into custody to prevent further use in illicit operations”
Ghana Police Service

In the Central Region, the Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force undertook separate but related operations at Nikanika and Adeade. At the Nikanika site, the team discovered a deserted mining location but retrieved one single-barrel shotgun loaded with a cartridge along with three water pumping machines.

“At Adeade, our task force arrested three suspects and recovered multiple exhibits including a heavy-duty excavator”
Ghana Police Service

The three arrested at Adeade – Prosper Quansah, Chrispin Nartey, and Owusu Gambra – were apprehended at the scene with “one SANY excavator loaded on a lowbed trailer.” Also seized were four unregistered Haojin motorbikes and a lowbed truck with the registration number GN 2136-24.

All suspects are currently in police custody assisting ongoing investigations, and the retrieved items remain secured under police protection.

These operations underline the Police Service’s broader strategy of dismantling illegal mining infrastructure while pursuing criminal accountability for individuals involved. Authorities reiterated that these missions will continue as part of the national policy direction on environmental governance and public safety.

“We remain committed to enforcing the law and protecting Ghana’s natural resources from destruction,” the Police assured.

The latest enforcement actions by the Ghana Police Service signal a stronger coordination between state institutions under the current government to confront illegal mining head-on.

With the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources also spearheading nationwide reforestation efforts through the Tree for Life initiative, law enforcement agencies are playing an increasingly visible role in ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

While the arrests send a strong message to perpetrators, they also highlight the challenges ahead in rooting out well-financed illegal operations. The Police Service has urged the public to support anti-galamsey efforts by volunteering credible information and reporting suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.